Luggage assembly convertible to mobile closet

ABSTRACT

A luggage assembly is provided wherein a main case body has formed thereon a main externally accessed clothing pocket associated with said main case body, a base connected to the main case body by a plurality of telescoping stand rods wherein said luggage assembly is constructed and arranged in a first configuration as a suitcase and a second configuration as a traveling closet.

INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/758,260 filed Feb. 4, 2013 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

Persons who travel know the difficulties associated with the various aspects of being away from their own home. Many luggage devices have been developed with the traveler in mind. However, there exists one difficulty for which even the most experienced traveler is often ill prepared. There are a significant number of places where lodging is provided and there is limited or no space for unpacking comfortably or there is no storage space for personal articles once a guest arrives. The existing configuration of luggage require that, in order to access the contents, the luggage be placed on a surface or on the floor, usually making it uncomfortable and difficult to access or retrieve items stored inside. The difficulties are present for people of any age but especially for elders. The traveler recurrently needs either to bend over and/or to unpack several undesired objects or pieces of clothing in order to reach the desired item and then having to pack back the rest, closing and displacing the luggage to a more convenient place until he or she needs to access it again, repeating the hurdle.

The present invention addresses this difficulty by providing a luggage assembly that is constructed and arranged such that it can function as not only a piece of traveling luggage but a portable closet. The present invention further contemplates a portable chest configuration in which the contents are made available not only in a comfortable height to be accessed by the traveler but also disposed in a more organized manner that requires no or minimal displaced objects/pieces of clothing every time one needs to access contents in a luggage. More than this, the invention transforms the luggage in a kind of convenient, piece of furniture to temporarily participate in the configuration of the room and not needing to be moved and dealt with every time a traveler needs to retrieve an item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a luggage assembly comprising:

-   -   a main case body;     -   a main externally accessed clothing pocket associated with said         main case body;     -   a base, wherein said base is connected to said main case body by         a plurality of telescoping stand rods;     -   said luggage assembly constructed and arranged in a first         configuration as a suitcase and a second configuration as a         traveling closet.

The assembly main case in constructed and arranged to position above said base and lock into an elevated position by virtue of a locking mechanism incorporated on said stand rods.

In one embodiment, a main clothing pocket is configured to receive a men's suit jacket having a length of between 26 to 40 inches and a width between 16 to 24 inches in a hanging and unfolded position. This configuration encompasses men's suits of U.S. sizes ranging from approximately size 36 to size 50. Although this is one preferred embodiment, the assembly main pocket encompasses many sizes and can be sized larger or smaller as desired.

The assembly main case, in said first configuration is locked into a fixed position on said base.

The base comprises an internal storage cavity accessible when the main body is elevated above the base. That is to say, base internal storage cavity is accessible when said assembly is in said second configuration in which said main case body is elevated above said base and held into said elevated position above said base and locked into an elevated position by virtue of a locking mechanism incorporated on said stand rods.

The further comprises rolling means on an underside of said base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the luggage assembly of the present invention in an expanded/standing position.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the luggage carrier assembly of the present invention in a retracted/travel position.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective partial cut away showing the interior of the luggage carrier assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view partial cut away showing the interior and folding shelf arrangement of the luggage assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective rear view of the luggage carrier assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the present invention with telescopic legs extended on one vertical side.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the present invention with telescopic legs extended on one vertical side with the luggage closed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the present invention with telescopic legs retracted on one vertical side with the luggage being closed.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the luggage carrier assembly demonstrative of legs retracted.]

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pair of luggage assemblies according to the present invention in a stacked arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The luggage carrier assembly 10 includes a main case 12 with a lifting handle 14 attached to the upper most surface of case 12. Telescoping handle 16 is constructed and arranged with a pair of telescoping rods 18 that attach telescoping handle 16 to case 12. Case 12 has formed thereon a primary outer pocket 20. Primary outer pocket 20 is constructed and arranged such that various items of clothing are placed therein with minimal or no folding.

For example, in one embodiment, primary pocket 20 is constructed and arranged to receive a man's suit jacket whereby the suit jacket need not be folded. Case 12 can have one or more side-mounted pockets 22 disposed thereon. Luggage carrier assembly 10 includes a plurality of telescoping standing rods 24 which extend and retract from the lower surface of luggage carrier assembly 10 when luggage carrier assembly 10 is in a standing upright position as demonstrated in the several figures.

Luggage assembly 10 rests on a base 32. When case 12 is raised up off of base 32 by means of telescoping extending rods 24, internal base storage cavity 34 is exposed and accessible. As generally understood in the art, telescoping extending rods 24 are constructed and arranged in a configuration that provides rods 24 lock in an extended position and thus elevate case 12 over base 32.

In one embodiment, storage cavity 34 is constructed and arranged to receive stored articles such as shoes, belts and other travel type items. When case 12 is lowered, as shown in embodiment in FIG. 2, items placed in storage cavity 34 are hidden from view and secured with luggage carrier assembly 10. In a lock position when case 12 is resting on base 32 a first interlock 28 and second interlock 30 are constructed and arranged to interact one with another in order secure case 12 into a fixed position onto base 32. First interlock 28 and second interlock 30 are further contemplated having a security lock incorporated thereon in order to secure articles placed within cavity 34.

As generally understood, casters 36 are utilized on the underside of base 32 for ease of movement of luggage carrier assembly 10 in a rolling fashion. Casters, according to the present invention, are any movement rolling means known in the art, including, but not limited to, traveling wheels, ball rollers or other known rolling means utilized in luggage and other movable articles.

Luggage assembly 10 is constructed and arranged to function as a traveling closet. When traveling with luggage carrier assembly 10 case 12 is locked into position on base 32. When using luggage carrier assembly 10 as a traveling closet a user typically will extend case 12 upward from base 32 utilizing telescoping rods 24. This raises up case 12 to a level where a user can more easily access the interior of case 12. As stated above, primary outer pocket 20 is constructed and arranged to hold at least one hanging article of clothing. The hanging article of clothing can be one or more men's suits, women's suits, women's dresses, men's pants, men's shirts and the like. When a user opens the pocket covering primary pocket 20, the user is able to access an interior hanging area.

The interior of case 12 is configured in a plurality of configurations as desired. In one configuration, as demonstrated in FIG. 3 a plurality of shelf tracks 42 are constructed and arranged on opposite sides of the interior of case 12 and they support folding accordion shelves 40. Folding accordion shelves 40 as demonstrated in FIG. 3 have at least one shelf support 44 that is slideably movable along shelf track 42 in order to extend and provide an upper shelf surface 46 in order to be utilized for placing items. When a user no longer desires to use any of the folding shelves 40 the shelf support rod 42 is slideably moved back toward the interior of case 12 thus providing more unobstructed volume on the inside of case 12.

In another embodiment, as demonstrated in FIG. 4, a plurality of shelves 52 are pivotably attached to case 12 and have a flexible support line 54 positioned on opposing ends of each shelf 52. The folding shelves are constructed and arranged such that they rotationally pivot as shown by directional line 60 of FIG. 4. In this configuration the shelf pivots outward to an extended substantially horizontal (or tilted) orientation to hold and prevent objects/clothing from falling off when case 12 is in expanded/standing position and open and when not in use along hinge 58 shelf 52 pivots to a substantially vertical orientation.

The present invention is not intended specifically to be limited to the embodiments shown in the several drawings. For example one or more hanging devices can be utilized with luggage carrier assembly 10 the present invention. In this embodiment one is provided with a detachable, mountable hanging device such as a rod suitable to hang conventional clothes hangers. In this configuration a user can hang additional items when luggage carrier assembly 10 is used a portable closet.

Other shelf, hanging, and closet-type configurations are contemplated incorporated in the assembly of the present invention.

With the incorporation of any closet-like features or amenities, be they shelves, lights, hangers, mirrors, and the like, the configuration is to be arranged for a first suitcase/travel configuration and a second, stationary, portable closet configuration. All such closet-like features are to be configured in order that they fit within the assembly and are secured for storage when the assembly is used as a suitcase.

In one embodiment, as best demonstrated in FIGS. 6 through 8, an assembly 10 includes for telescoping legs 72 formed on the underside of the assembly on a planer surface. As understood herein, and demonstrated by the figures, the planer surface is intended to be the upright and rear surface relative to the wheels and opening of the luggage. That is to say, with reference to FIG. 6, when luggage assembly 10 is standing on wheels 36 a user will position luggage assembly 10 in a generally horizontal configuration extend legs 72 and access cover opening 80. Base support 74 with telescopic legs 72 is positioned on the planar surface opposites cover 80. This position is referred to as the back planer surface.

In this configuration, the upper side has a frontal closure cover 80 that is opened and removed as desired and provide access to the interior of luggage body 70. In one configuration, telescopic legs 72 have an incorporated lock 78 that lock legs 72 into a desired extended or retracted position. Telescopic legs 72 are formed into luggage body 70 at base support 74.

In another embodiment, a plurality of luggage assembly 10 are constructed and arranged to be stacked one on top of another as demonstrated in FIG. 10. Each leg assembly 72 for each luggage assembly 10 is selectively extended to a desired length. Leg assembly lock 78 is constructed and arranged such that leg assemblies need not be fully extended in order to lock into position.

In one embodiment telescoping leg base support 74 is permanently attached two luggage body 70. In an alternative embodiment, telescoping leg base support 74 is removably attached and can be selectively attached to any desired luggage body.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A luggage assembly comprising: a main case body; a main externally accessed clothing pocket associated with said main case body; a base, wherein said base is connected to said main case body by a plurality of telescoping stand rods; said luggage assembly constructed and arranged in a first configuration as a suitcase and a second configuration as a traveling closet.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said main case is constructed and arranged to position above said base and lock into an elevated position by virtue of a locking mechanism incorporated on said stand rods.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said main clothing pocket is configured to receive a men's suit jacket having a length of between 26 to 40 inches and a width between 16 to 24 inches in a hanging and unfolded position.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said main case, in said first configuration is locked into a fixed position on said base.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said base comprises an internal storage cavity.
 6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said base comprises an internal storage cavity accessible when said assembly is in said second configuration in which said main case body is elevated above said base and held into said elevated position above said base and locked into an elevated position by virtue of a locking mechanism incorporated on said stand rods.
 7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said base comprises rolling means on an underside of said base.
 8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of telescoping stand rods are positioned on the underside of a luggage body where rolling means are normally positioned.
 9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of telescoping stand rods are positioned on a back planer surface of the assembly.
 10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly is configured to attach more than one assembly and form a stacking arrangement. 